Our portrait photographers can do a wide range of photo shoots including Editorial and Environmental Portraiture. Call us to book your portrait session: 020 3289 9054

Latest projects

Portrait photographers…

Portrait photography helps identify who we are, how we see ourselves or how we are seen. They can be honest images or equally created for affecting a new and improved persona.

There are several types of portrait sessions that we create. The ‘studio’ shot, usually shot on a seamless backdrop with and without props and the ‘environmental’ portrait, placing the sitter in their surroundings. These can be so diverse that you may find many variations in a single session. We also shoot beauty & fashion photography sessions.

Speak to us to find out more about our portrait photo studio shoots for your requirements and see our portfolio for examples of our work.

Our clients…

Most of our clients will hire us for commercial, corporate or media projects and so we shoot lots of portraits that end up in the online / offline national & international press, and trade publications.

This often means we are given instructions on the scope of a shoot so we can create images fit for purpose as these shots will have a clear objective.

Other clients who are looking to build a library of stock PR shots take a different approach and we are often asked to create additional images that have the capacity for long term use.

What clients say

“David is an amazing advertising & portrait photographer and I have recommended him to all my clients. I can’t recommend him highly enough — his work is often seen in Retail Week and Drapers with “industry voices” with their pictures by Headshot London. If you want a professional photographer look no further.”

Vicki – Fashion & Retail PR Consultant

“I love the sincerity of this picture. I am a fan of literature and when I was young I lectured in Journalism before my career as a professional sportsman took off. I like my portrait as you see it, because it looks like the poet or novelist I have always longed to be but never could.” Thank you for indulging me.Andrey K.

What is Portrait Photography?

Portrait photography, which is also called, more often than not, portraiture, is the art of capturing a subject (in this case, a person or a group of people) in which the face, facial features as well as facial expressions are made predominant.

What portrait photographers or portraiture photographers aim is to focus on the person’s face. They aim to give emphasis on the face of the person because this will also be the focus or the emphasis of the photograph. This does not mean, however, that the person’s body or even the background will no longer be included. Under portrait photography, these can still be included in the photo by the portrait photographer but again, the focus or the emphasis should be on the person’s face, facial expression and even distinct facial features.

One of the common misconceptions about portrait photography is that it is but a snapshot or a photograph of a person. This is not true. In portrait photography or portraiture, a composed or “rehearsed” image of a person in a still position is captured. This basically means that the portrait photographer would prep the subject and the subject would have a specific position and angle. Of course, the “rehearsal” and all the details surrounding it should be discussed between the subject and portrait photographer beforehand.

Usually, portraiture involves the subject (again, in this case, the person to be take a photo of) looking directly into the portrait photographer’s camera. In the early days, all of the subjects in portraitures looked into the lens of the portrait photographer’s camera. These days, however, many portrait photographers as well as subjects of these portraitures “experiment.” Many now have portraits wherein they do not directly look at the camera. Some also have distinct angles that they want captures that’s why they sit in a specific position in front of the camera as well. Again, these “new” and recent styles in portrait photography are based on the portrait photographer’s tips and recommendations and more importantly, based on the preference of the subject.

Unlike other photography styles, the subjects of portrait photography or portraiture are often non-professional models. This means that ordinary people such as fathers, mothers, their kids, businessmen and even the local man on the street can be subjects in portraitures.

There are no boundaries or rules when it comes to portrait photography. Truth be told, that’s what makes portrait photography easy and difficult at the same time! Easy because just about anybody with a point and shoot camera can do a portraiture but difficult because when you need a professional portrait taken, you must rely on professional portrait photographers. More on this later in this article.

There are essentially four (4) approaches when it comes to portrait photography or portraiture:

1) the constructionist

2) candid approach

3) environmental approach and

4) the creative approach.

1. For the constructionist approach, this is where the portrait photographer builds a certain “ambience” for the total look of the portrait. For instance, the photographer, with the consent of the subject/s of course, would develop an idea around the portrait – smiling, happy couple, for one. A confident new graduate. An honest looking business executive. A blushing bride who’s so eager to start her new life. These are just a few of the ideas that a portrait photographer can work on when developing a photo taken with the constructionist approach in mind.

2. The environmental approach, on the other hand, depicts the subject in their surrounding or environment. For instance, in their work place. A portrait can be taken of the subject being in his office, with a photo of his country’s president or of his favorite global leader as background.

3. Thirdly, the candid approach. This is where the subject is photographed without his or her knowledge, hence, candid. One could most probably say that this is the “informal” type of portrait photography since the subject does not look at the camera directly. However, a lot of portrait photographers like to use this approach as it’s less invasive and can really capture a certain emotion.

4. Lastly, the creative approach is where digital manipulation is included in the process. The end result usually is a magical, very attractive and visually appealing portrait.